After beating the Florida Marlins 10-8 in 11 innings, the 2010 edition of the Cincinnati Reds could rightly be called the "Cardiac Reds."
It is hard for me to watch the games in their entirety because it makes me feel like I am going to have another stroke.
But it is like a train wreck—you can't turn away. You just can't.
The Reds have won all five of their games in their final at-bat. That speaks volumes. They have won their last two games in extra innings, both on the road against the Marlins.
Each day (or night) it seems there is a different player taking care of business. Last night, Joey Votto singled in the winning run in the 11th inning.
In a game that made the viewer dizzy with the change in ebb and flow, Jonny Gomes and Ryan Hanigan each smashed three-run home runs to spot Bronson Arroyo a 6-1 lead.
After Illya Harrell, my good friend and colleague, had written an article about possible trade scenarios concerning Brandon Phillips, the Golden Glove second baseman responded by going 4-for-6 with two runs and two batted in. He dramatically raised his batting average 88 points to a respectable .275.
Jay Bruce continues to bat below the equator. He is absolutely snakebitten in this early portion of the season. He was robbed of a double by Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs the other day and last night had a home run taken away after the crew went to the tape to review it.
Replays showed the ball clearly behind the foul pole from that angle, making it a home run.
Gomes had four RBI last night, giving him a share of the team lead at six with Phillips and Orlando Cabrera.
Micah Owings looks like the go-to guy in the long relief situation. He pitched two more scoreless innings against the Marlins, allowing only one hit and striking out three. He has now gone five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with five strikeouts.
Coco Cordero, who obviously reads articles we publish in the Reds Community, apparently saw the chastisement I issued him on Saturday concerning Friday night's dark performance.
Since then he has been lights out and has now won one game and saved the other four that the Reds have won. He leads the league in that department. I still love you Coco, you big lug.
Logan Ondrusek got his bell rung by the Marlins and was credited (I guess I should say debited) with a blown save. After giving up a single to Hanley Ramirez and a walk to Ronny Paulino, Cody Ross touched him up with an opposite-field three-run homer to tie the score.
Drew Stubbs continued his run toward Mark Reynolds' record as he struck out three more times, giving him a league-leading 12 in his 30 ABs.
It is ultimately refreshing to see the Reds either come back to win or hold on to win a close game.
Currently the Reds are just a half-game back of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals, and it is fun again to be a Reds fan. Life is good in the Reds Community.
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